Simon l



(No Model.)

S. L. GAARDER. WATCH REGULATOR.

No. 459,279. Patented Sept. 8, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

SIMON L. GAARDEIL OF STARBUOK, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO KNUTL, BREVIG, OF SAME PLACE.

WATCH-REGU LATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,279, datedSeptember 8, 1891.

Application filed February 26, 1891. Serial No. 382,85L (No model.)

To a. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIMON L. GAARDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Starbuck, in the county of Pope, and in the State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWVatch-Regulators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of awatch-movement provided with my improved regulating means; Fig. 2, asimilar view of the parts of my device separated from each other, andFig. 3 a view, partly in elevation and partly in section.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts throughout the severalfigures.

The object of my invention is to provide means to enable the regulationof a watch to be effected by a micrometrical or exceedinglyfineadjustment of its regulatingmechanism; and to this end said inventionconsists in the device and the parts thereof constructed and combined ashereinafter specified and claimed.

My invention has nothing to do with the construction of the device whichacts directly upon the hair-spring of a time-piece, but has reference tomechanism to be used in 0011- junction with any suitable device of thischaractor, and hence while I show one form of such device to illustratethe practical embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that Ido not limit myself to the use of such or any particular kind. The onewith which I have shown my invention as adapted for use is of ordinaryconstruction, consisting of a journaling-ring A, mounted on a cock B andprovided with two radially-extendin g arms a, and a, the former of whichconstitutes a moving arm, while the latter constitutes the means forcarrying the curb-pins, which engage with the hair-spring.

Mounted at its ends in bearings of suitable construction arranged uponthe movementplate D in proximity to the outer free end of the moving arma is a shaft or arbor E, screwthreaded throughout its length, which issubstantially equal to the range of movement the arm a is designed tohave. Upon this shaft or arbor, and adapted to be moved thereby when thesame is rotated, is a block F, having for the purpose of effecting suchmovement a screw-threaded opening which engages with the said arbor. Theside of the block adjacent to the free end of the arm a of the regulatoris provided with means to engage said arm, which preferably consists oftwo semicircular arms and f, between whose ends is a small space intowhich projects said arm a. The opposite side of the block F is shaped soas to form an indicator f, which, in conjunction with a graduated scaleG, affords means to show the degree of adjustment or movement given theblock.

The means I have devised torotate the arbor and so move the block andthrough it the device which operates directly upon the hairspringconsists of a worm-wheel e, secured to one end of the arbor E, and aworm II, meshing with and adapted to rotate it. Said worm is journaledso as to be held in position relative to the arbor by having one of itsends reduced and contained in an opening provided for its reception in aplate I, while its upper end is contained within an opening provided ina shell or housing K, placed upon and at tached to the plate I, so as toinclose or surround the worm II, except, of course, at a point adjacentto the worm-wheel e, where a space is left to permit engagement of thelatter with the worm. Preferably formed with and as a part of saidhousing is a straight piece 7;, that constitutes one of the bearings orsupports for the shaft or arbor E. The reduced end of the worm extends ashort distance be-- yond the under face of the plate I and has anannular groove into which is sprung aring or perforated disk h, whichoperates to hold said worm against longitudinal or endwise movement inone direction by engaging the under side of the plate I, while endwisemove ment in an opposite direction is prevented by the engagement withthe upper side of said plate of the shoulder formed by reducing thediameter of the worm. This expedient, in

conj unction with thehousing K, forms a simple and effective means forjournaling and protecting the Worm. At its exposed end the latter isgrooved or slitted for the reception of a suitable device, as ascrew-driver, to effect its rotation.

The screw-threaded arbor E is restrained from longitudinal or endwisemovement in a Way precisely similar to that employed with the WormI*Ithat is, its end opposite the one having the worm-wheel e is reducedWhere it passes through its bearing at such end, and an annular grooveprovided in a portion that proj ects beyond said bearing, into which issprung a ring or perforated disk. The ring or disk on one side and theshoulder formed by reducing the diameter of the arbor on the other sideengage the arbor-bearing, so that the arbor is securely held againstlongitudin a-l movement.

It Will be understood that the engagement or contact of the face of theblock F with the adjacent face of the plate I will prevent rotation ofthe former and compel it to move along the arbor E.

Preferably all of the parts of my device are mounted upon the plate I,and the index-scale formed thereon, and said plate suitably se cured, asby screws, to the movement-plate I). I prefer, too, that the Worm-Wheele and the shaft or arbor E be integral or in one piece; but of coursechanges may be made in this respect and in others of the same naturewithout departure from the scope of my invention.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing description that by theemployment of my worm-gearing to revolve the screw-threaded arborexceedingly delicate micrometric adj ustment or regulation of theoperative length of a hair-spring may be obtained, and that my mechanismis both simple and inexpensive in its construction.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. In combinationwith a regulator-arm, a screw-threaded shaft or arbor adapted to movethe same, a worm-Wheel on such arbor, a Worm meshing with it, having oneend reduced and passed through a supporting-plate, and the locking-ringseated in an annular groove in said reduced end beneath thesupportingplate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. I11 a regulating device for timepieces, in combination with a movablepart of such device, a Worm-Wheel, connections to transmit movement fromthe latter to said part, the Worm meshing with said whee], having areduced end with an annular groove journaled in a suitable part, a ringseated in said groove to prevent endWise movement of said Worm, andsuitable journaling means for the other en d of said worm, substantiallyas and for the purpose shown.

In combination with a worm or screwthreaded arbor having a portion ofits length reduced to form a shoulder and having an annular groove, abearing engaging such reduced portion, and a ring or perforated diskseated in said groove to prevent endWise movement of said arbor,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this23d day of January, A. D. 1891.

SIMON Ii. GAARDER.

Witnesses:

AND. G. Annnnson, G. 0. Gunnnnson.

